Program goals

The Designing Adult Education for the Digital Age diploma recognizes the growing importance of formal and informal lifelong learning as seen in the expanding professional development needs of post-secondary instructors as well as similar requirements in the following workplace environments:

community-based

corporate

professional

public-sector

As the instructional demands of these large institutions and organizations continue to grow outside the traditional university and college-based education system, and as human resources departments turn their attention to the economic benefits of just-in-time online learning opportunities, there is an increased need for individuals with the knowledge, competencies and skills associated with teaching and learning in adult education environments in the digital age.

The diploma intends to prepare a new kind of expert who:

Is essential to the knowledge-based economy.

Has a broad social understanding of adult education.

Possesses a specialized knowledge and competency base with an understanding of the use of digital technologies for learning.

This diploma is designed with you in mind. It is built on UOIT’s strength in digital technology and the Faculty of Education’s focus on learning and technology.

The Designing Adult Learning for the Digital Age diploma program and the Bachelor of Arts in Educational Studies and Digital Technology (AEDT specialization) program have similar expectations of their graduates. In both programs, graduates will develop competencies such as:

AEDT specialization competencies

Communication:

traditional and multimodal forms of communication etiquette and ethics

Critical, creative and problem-based thinking:

creativity

inquiry and analysis

problem solving

Design and facilitation of adult learning:

adult learning teaching and facilitation strategies

adult learning theories

authentic assessment in adult learning

Digital age:

collaboration

leadership

online facilitation

professional and ethical behaviour

time management

virtual teamwork

Social advocacy in digital media environments:

digital advocacy, activism and social action

political and social critique of digital technologies

Technical practices and digital epistemologies:

possibilities and limits of digital age for social, cultural and intellectual development

UOIT has demonstrated strengths in the area of learning technology. The addition of the six-course diploma is consistent with the Faculty of Education's overall direction. It builds on the existing success of the bachelor's program in Educational Studies and Digital Technologies and the graduate program in Education and Digital Technology.

The university is proud to acknowledge the lands and people of the Mississaugas of Scugog Island First Nation which is covered under the Williams Treaties. We are situated on the Traditional Territory of the Mississaugas, a branch of the greater Anishinaabeg Nation which includes Algonquin, Ojibway, Odawa and Pottawatomi.